Mr. Vaadi provided these comments in the Spring Concert program.​Thank you to everyone for attending tonight’s concert. It has been a pleasure sharing music with you all over these last four and a half years. St. Pete High will always hold a special place in my heart and I look forward to seeing the progress and growth this program will make over the coming years.​I would also like to thank the current administration--Darlene Lebo, Ryan Halstead, Susan Farias, Lincoln Yates, and Jennifer Vragovic--for creating a school atmosphere that feels like an extended family and for advocating for our kids.

Last but not least—to my students. Thank you for teaching me so many life lessons and for the musical moments we shared. I will miss you all so dearly and I know you’ll all go on to do great things. Stay in touch!

Mr. Vaadi made these comments at the Band Banquet in May.

You know — I always hate giving speeches at these things. I become this nervous wreck and I always tend to speak too quickly or not enough. What if I leave someone out? Am I making enough eye contact or am I doing the typical "Vaadi stare-down"? Should I throw in an amusing anecdote or should I try to take a serious tone? I always think to myself — "well if I don't do so well on the speech this year, I can always try again next year." Well, there isn't a next year for me. This is it. Better not screw it up, right?

And I think that's a great life lesson all by itself. There isn't always going to be a second chance so you better make this one count. I always say in band — you have to perform every rep like it's the one that counts. That's how you get better. Act like you've been there before. Work on the details — the little things — and the big things will take care of themselves.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Being in marching band has little to do with music. Sure, music is the driving force of this activity. But I don't see it as the thing that makes marching band, or concert band so special. You see, for me, band is so much more than notes on a page or being 8 steps outside the left 45 and 12 steps in front of the home hash. Those are just meaningless instructions.

Being in band is about sacrifice. It's about selfless acts of service and love. No, I'm not talking about love like you would see in a Twilight movie or read in a Nicholas Sparks novel. I'm talking about the love of what you do. Passion drives life. Why do something if you're not passionate about it? That's a very dull way to "live". You see, being in this activity is one of the most selfless acts of teamwork you can do. Unlike in certain sports, if you're not doing so well, what does your coach do? Probably put you on the bench and bring up the next player. Well, that doesn't exist here. If you're not doing so great — well then you better get into the practice room and figure it out because people depend on you.

This activity humbles you — greatly. There's nothing quite like the ego blow of being able to play your music sitting down or standing still and then having myself or Uncle Matt say "ok, well now I want you to play and march the entire opener that you've only had for a week." Or how about that first show? Where everything seems so great at rehearsals and then you have to stand there agonizing as they just called the 4th place band but haven't said "St. Pete High" yet. It hurts. You take it personally. You work just as hard in temperatures just as hot with situations that are outside of your control but you're still lesser than someone else. Maybe you had your best ever show. Where's the recognition? Have a slice of humble pie and get back to work. I promise you -- you are all better people because of it.

You're certainly the kind of people I would want others to be around. You've all impacted me so nearly and dearly and I thank you for that. At an awards banquet in spring 2015, I got on the podium and told the class of 2015 that they were manure. You see, their director when they were freshmen used this metaphor saying that the freshman were dirt, the sophomores were seeds, the juniors were water, and the seniors were flowers. It was a way to illustrate to them the progression of their personalities and contributions to the band program. I told them they were manure — the fertilizer that nourishes the seed so it could grow into something beautiful and strong. The seeds were, of course the freshman for that year — the class of 2018.

Like many times since then, I was wrong. You are neither dirt, seeds, water, flowers, nor the ever-so-special manure. You are all cherished memories. You are the pictures on my refrigerator, the snapshots in my photo albums, the cherished after football game or competition talks in the band room, the nonverbal conversations we have with just a moment of eye contact, the headaches and drama. You are the endless amounts of blue passes, the locked pinkies before performances, the "one more times", the gush and go's. You are the "Ugh Vaadi's late at 6:41 am" on Monday mornings, the "my office isn't a clubhouse", the countless 4b, 3a 3b, 2c, d, and e's, the "hey band!" The awkward looks I give you when you "play" the Alma Mater at the end of the game it's in Eb, not Bb. The one hit challenges, the "no we don't need tarps" (cue rain), the "these burgers are unacceptable!"

You are the broken wheels on Jarvis, the rats in the band room, the drum room "odor", the "tubas, right now you're the worst section in the band", the nriedos forgetting to fill the water jugs, the props that aren't put together yet, the throwing of grapes from across a parking lot, getting to competitions quickly to only have to sit there and wait in the sun until we perform, the moving with a purpose, and the phrase "try has the intent to fail". You are the "dad? Dad? Dad?"

You are the boys and girls. And I am so proud to have been your director. Thank you for impacting my life in ways that still amaze me. I sincerely hope you stay in touch. If you're ever in Gainesville please —let's go to Satchel's pizza. You can pick up the check. be a poor college kid again.

The following awards were presented by Mr. Vaadi at the May 2018 Band Banquet.

National School Marching Band Award: Clara Machado

Director’s Award for Band: Vincent Onessimo

John Philip Sousa Award: Meara O’Connor

Leonard Bernstein Musicianship Award: Seth Yeager

Mr. Vaadi made these comments upon presenting the awards.

Choosing awards is never an easy task for any director. There are so many admirable qualities that each member of an ensemble have. Qualities such as drive, dedication, passion, leadership, musical excellence, and responsibility are things that I see in each and every one of you. So when I sat down to start making my lists of who would receive my awards, my mind started to go blank. I started to think back on this year but also the years that came before. Who stood out? Who went above and beyond? Who was always doing the right thing, even when no one was watching?

The first award tonight is the National School Marching Band award, sponsored by the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps and Youth Education in the Arts. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the marching band program and its members. This year's winner has been someone who I can always depend on no matter the situation. They have been resolute in times of struggle and frustration. Our band family wouldn't be what it is without this outstanding young lady at the helm — always someone to lend a hand and share a laugh with. She has made me so proud over these last 3 years and I know her presence in the band room and her animated way of talking with her hands will be greatly missed next year. It is my pleasure to present the National School Marching Band award to Clara Machado.

Next is the Director's Award. This award is presented to a member of either the concert or marching band program to someone who has demonstrated an outstanding level of dedication, musical ability, and leadership. The winner of this award is someone who can always be seen doing the right thing, always to the best of their ability. They lead by example. I don't recall a time where this person wasn't at a band function, rehearsal, sectional, fundraiser, pep band performance, or the like. I'm so proud to present the Director's Award for Band to Vincent Onessimo.

My next award is the John Philip Sousa Award. The John Philip Sousa Band Award is the pinnacle of achievement for high school band students. Created in 1955, the award honors the top student in a high-school band and recognizes superior musicianship and outstanding dedication. It was developed with the cooperation of Helen Sousa Albert and Priscilla Sousa, daughters of the famous composer and bandmaster. Each winner is included in a database that dates back to 1955 and they are etched into that legacy forever. When choosing this year's recipient, I had to pick someone whose musical talent was far and above that of their peers. As anyone who's had the pleasure of being in a wind symphony rehearsal with me over these last 4 and half years knows that I can be a real stickler when it comes to the sounds I will accept. But of all the times I had to stop and make corrections or go back and work out a transition that didn't quite make the cut, I couldn't remember a time when it was because of this section — or this particular musician. And honestly that says a lot. As a fellow horn player, I have insanely high expectations for this person. But I can honestly say she is a much better horn player than I was when I was her age. It should come as no surprise that this year's recipient of the John Philip Sousa Award is Meara O'Connor.

My final award is something that hasn't ever been presented before at St. Pete High. It's a completely new award - the Leonard Bernstein Musicianship Award. In his long career Bernstein made a permanent mark on the musical world as a conductor, composer, and teacher. This award will honor students whose musical contributions, dedication, and creativity set them apart as deserving of the highest recognition for their achievements. One of the things that makes St. Pete High Band students so special is the fact that they're involved in so many activities at school. Our students' interests are very diverse and with that diversity of talent, they bring many positive qualities to our program. This young man has shown throughout his time here at St. Pete High just how much of an impact he can have on not only the band program, but the choir and theater programs as well. I know he will go on to do great things as a senior. This year's winner of the Leonard Bernstein Musicianship Award goes to Seth Yeager.